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Pokémon GO Weekly Roundup: Raichu Mega Raid, Soul Galo Shiny & 10th Anniversary

Welcome back, trainers! The latest Pokémon GO news cycle is packed with high‑value raids, a birthday celebration for Professor Willow, and the long‑awaited 10th‑anniversary Ultra Unlock. Whether you’re hunting for the new shiny Soul Galo, prepping for Raichu’s Super Mega Raid Day, or chasing massive XP bonuses, this guide breaks down everything you need to know for the week of July 18‑27.

Raichu Super Mega Raid Day (July 18, 2:00‑5:00 PM local)

• Debut: Both Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y appear for the first time. They are pure Electric‑type, weak only to Ground.
• Shiny odds: Standard mega shiny rate is 1/64; raid‑day events boost it to roughly 1/10.
• Performance: Mega Raichu Y is the strongest Electric‑type attacker in the game (ranked #1), outclassing Zeraora until Mega Zeraora arrives. Mega Raichu X is more defensive and ranks #16.
• Event perks:
  • Timed research rewards a battle pass and a Steelix encounter (useful for a Ground‑type Mega to break shields).
  • Remote raid pass limit raised to 20; up to six free raid passes from spinning gym photo discs.
  • Raichu caught in these raids start at Mega Level 1 with the boosted shiny rate.
  • Optional $5 ticket grants up to 14 extra raid passes, +5,000 XP and +5,000 Stardust per super mega raid, plus higher rare‑candy‑XL chances.
• Raid requirements: Super mega raids have shields like Mega Mewtwo; you’ll need at least 8‑10 trainers and must bring a Mega Pokémon to break shields. Primal Groudon cannot break shields, so avoid it.
• Top counters:
  • Best Mega: Mega Garchomp (primary), Mega Mewtwo X/Y, Mega Rayquaza, Mega Swampert, Mega Lucario.
  • Best Shadow: Shadow Groudon, Shadow Regigigas, Shadow Excadrill, Shadow Garchomp.
  • Best Legendary: Therian Forme Landorus, Groudon, Eternatus.
  • Budget: Garchomp, Excadrill, Mamoswine.

Scenic Sunday (July 19) & Max Monday (July 20)

• Scenic Sunday: Increased wild spawns, more Pokémon on routes, enhanced Incense on routes, reduced buddy‑candy distance, and up to three Matteo encounters per route.
• Max Monday: Featured Dynamax Trubbish (Tier 1, soloable). Weak to Ground and Psychic; best counters include Alakazam, Latios, Metagross, Espeon, Excadrill. Shiny available; Hundo CP 571.

Professor Willow’s Birthday (July 21, 10:00 AM‑8:00 PM local)

• Exclusive Costume Pikachu – “Professor Willow’s Assistant Pikachu” – appears in Field Research, Timed Research, Snapshot Surprises, and raids.
• Shiny possible; can have a Team Leader background.
• Free Timed Research rewards multiple Pikachu encounters, a Lucky Egg, and a Star Piece (claim before 8:00 PM July 27).
• Hundo CP: 402 from research, 536 from raids.

Ultra Unlock 10th Anniversary Edition (July 21‑27)

• XP Bonuses:
  • July 21‑23: 6× catch XP
  • July 23‑25: 8× catch XP
  • July 25‑27: 10× catch XP
• Starter Pokémon Rotations (all with Community Day moves):
  • July 21‑23: Gen 1‑3 starters
  • July 23‑25: Gen 4‑6 starters
  • July 25‑27: Gen 7‑9 starters
• Lure Module Attractions: Beldum, Gible, Dreepy, and more.
• Special Raids (party‑hat variants):
  • 1‑star: Grimer (party hat)
  • 3‑star: Raticate, Nidoqueen, Gengar, Wobbuffet (all party hats)
• Community Day Moves: All featured starters can learn their exclusive Community Day moves during the event – essential for top‑tier attackers.
• Masterwork Research “Glimmers of Gratitude” ($4.99): Grants Shiny Shaymin (repeatable only once per account). Long‑term, narrative‑driven; skippable if you only care about combat utility.
• Go Pass (free, deluxe $5, instant rank 7 $7):
  • Free track includes 10th‑anniversary T‑shirt, Golden Lure Module, event‑themed encounters.
  • Deluxe adds one extra Golden Lure Module – generally not worth the upgrade.
  • Bonuses: Rank 10 → 2× catch candy (3× with deluxe); Rank 20 → increased Candy XL chance.

Showcase Tuesday & GBL Rotation (July 21)

• Showcase Tuesday: Up to five PokéStop Showcases; more stops feature showcases.
• GBL: Great League, Ultra League, Master League rotate at 1:00 PM Pacific (July 21‑28). 4× Stardust from win rewards for the whole season.

Soul Galo Shiny Debut & Mega Salamence Return (July 22‑28)

• Soul Galo (Psychic/Steel) in 5‑star raids; first shiny release in over a year (1/20 legendary shiny rate).
  • Hundo CP: 2,310 (2,887 weather‑boosted).
  • PvE: #80 Psychic, #59 Steel attacker.
  • PvP: #37 Master League; unique Fire‑type moves.
  • Main value: fusing with Necrozma to create Dusk Mane Necrozma (stats/IVs from Necrozma, shininess from Necrozma).
• Best Counters for Soul Galo:
  • Top Mega: Mega Charizard Y, Primal Groudon, Mega Blaziken.
  • Shadow: Shadow Hydreigon, Heatran, Chandelure.
  • Legendary: Dawn Wings Necrozma, Palkia, Reshiram.
• Mega Salamence returns in Mega Raids (same window). Strong Dragon/Flying attacker – worth raiding for Mega Energy.

Quick Reference: Raid Counter Cheat Sheet

Boss	Best Mega	Best Shadow	Best Legendary	Budget
Mega Raichu (Super Mega)	Mega Garchomp	Shadow Groudon	Therian Landorus	Garchomp
Soul Galo	Mega Charizard Y	Shadow Hydreigon	Dawn Wings Necrozma	Excadrill

Wrap‑Up & Action Plan

This week offers a rare convergence of high‑impact raids, massive XP multipliers, and exclusive cosmetic rewards. Prioritize:

1. Raichu Super Mega Raid Day – secure Mega Raichu Y (top Electric attacker) and farm the boosted shiny rate.
2. Ultra Unlock XP windows – schedule mass catching sessions, especially during the 10× period (July 25‑27).
3. Soul Galo raids – grab a shiny for your collection and consider fusing for Dusk Mane Necrozma if you have a strong Necrozma.
4. Free Timed Research – claim the birthday Pikachu, Lucky Egg, and Star Piece before July 27.
5. Go Pass – review free rewards; the Golden Lure Module alone nets a free Gimmighoul coin without a Switch.

Check the in‑game news tab for exact local start times, assemble your raid groups, and make the most of this anniversary‑packed week. Happy hunting, trainers!